Mr Stoner said the premium harbour-side hotel will have around 600 rooms and be a standout feature of the NSW Government’s $2.5 billion transformation of Darling Harbour.
“Today’s announcement is a milestone in Darling Harbour’s revitalisation and a major tourism win for the State,” Mr Stoner said.
“This will be the first large luxury hotel built in Sydney’s CBD since the 2000 Olympics, and shows that Sydney well and truly has its mojo back.
“The hotel will be operated by Accor under its French luxury hotel brand Sofitel, which aligns with the conference, special event and tourism functions of Darling Harbour.
“The NSW Government is delighted that its development partner for this part of the project, Lend Lease, has secured an agreement with Australia’s largest private hotel investor, Dr Jerry Schwartz, to deliver the hotel.
“The new hotel will provide convenient and contemporary accommodation for delegates to the new International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), increasing Sydney’s appeal for major international business events.
“Designed by renowned architect Richard Francis-Jones, the hotel will be an impressive addition to the precinct, complementing the showcase major events venue and reinvigorated public spaces,” he said.
Mr Stoner said the hotel will boost the city’s visitor economy by expanding the supply and range of hotel accommodation for corporate travellers and tourists.
“Sydney had nearly 2.9 million international overnight visitors in the year to March 2014, and this luxury hotel will be yet another drawcard for our city,” Mr Stoner said.
“Construction of the new 35 storey hotel is expected to start in late 2014, and it is due for completion in the first half of 2017.
“ICC Sydney will be capable of collectively hosting more than 12,000 delegates and holding multiple large conferences and exhibitions concurrently, and will ensure NSW remains a leading destination for business events in the Asia Pacific.
“Construction of the $1.1 billion centre is well underway, and it is attracting increasing global interest, highlighted by the recent announcement that Sydney has secured Sibos, the largest and most influential financial event in the world, for 2018.
“This is an infrastructure investment that will deliver on the national, State and local scale, hosting international exchange, generating about $200 million in annual economic benefit for NSW, and providing great new public places for everyone to enjoy.
“Across the 20-hectare redevelopment, the project will create about 3,700 jobs during construction, with a further 4,000 jobs on completion including a range of hospitality and tourism employment opportunities.
“This an exciting time for Sydney, and the new convention, exhibition and entertainment centre is just one of a raft of major infrastructure projects gaining momentum across the city,” he said.
Images and video of the new hotel here
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